Hydration Tips for Serious Athletes – Water vs. Sports Drinks

Serious athletes need serious hydration, whether runners, cyclists, rugby players, football players, or anyone else involved in any competitive sport or strenuous exercise. Exerting energy on intense levels over a period of time causes dehydration, perspiration, and muscle fatigue, to name a few. Replenishing the body’s fluids is a vital step toward success as a serious athlete.

Water is often quick and easy to quench thirst, but due to its lack of taste, water may not be especially desired when one should continue drinking beyond thirst in order to hydrate. Sports drinks like Gatorade, Powerade, and Lucozade are great options for hydration due to their wide range of colors and flavors as well as the ongoing ability to hydrate. The sweet and/or tart tastes of the various sports drinks give athletes more motivation to keep drinking, further hydrating their bodies for optimum performance.

When Is It Best to Drink Water?
Experts agree that water is the preferred natural method of hydration. Drink water on a regular basis and especially the day before and the day of your strenuous exercise or competitive sports. You should also drink water to replenish your body’s fluids lost during exercise. While water may be named the best method of hydration, it only counts if athletes are drinking the quantities of water needed for hydration.

Sometimes the plain taste of water may be a turnoff. Some good tips to increase your water intake are to take turns drinking water and sports drinks, and also to mix half water and half of your favorite sports drink for dual benefits. Although it provides hydration, water does not contain calories and therefore does not offer much nutrition to the body.

When Is It Best to Drink Sports Drinks?
Sports drinks offer a refreshing change to the taste of water. Nutritional sports drinks also deliver the body much-needed electrolytes, helping to prevent muscle weakness and muscle contractions. After working out or competing for an hour or more, athletes truly should replenish their electrolytes – making this the perfect time to enjoy a sports drink.

Sports energy drinks provide the body with fewer calories than traditional juices, making them a healthy addition to the diet. Sports nutrition beverages also contain carbohydrates, which the body burns during exercise. Drinking sports drinks during long spells of exercise or after a particularly strenuous workout or competition can help to bring the body back to its proper state of hydration.

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When it comes down to it, sports drinks can greatly increase your chances of ultimate hydration due to their attractive flavors and ongoing great taste. To ensure best hydration of your body before, during, and after athletic activity, be sure to drink plenty of water as well as nutritional sports drinks often throughout the day and surrounding days. Enjoy both water and sports drinks for best results of hydration and replenishment of electrolytes and carbohydrates. Furthermore, if you are the type of person who bores easily with bland flavors, don’t forget to mix some of your favorite sports drink flavor into your water for a more enjoyable experience in hydration.